Volume Management in a Media Playback System

Abstract

Example techniques may provide volume enhancements to a media playback system. An example implementation involves a first playback device in a first playback configuration playing audio at a first volume level and storing the first volume level in association with the first playback configuration. The first playback device receives instructions to change to a second playback configuration. Based on receiving the instructions, the first playback device joins a synchrony group with a second zone and adjusts the first playback device to play audio at a second volume level which is based on a volume level of a second playback device in the second zone. While in the second playback configuration, the first playback device receives instructions to change to the first playback configuration and, based on the instructions, leaves the synchrony group and adjusts the first playback device to play audio content at the stored first volume level.

1 . A first playback device comprising:
 one or more processors;   tangible, non-transitory computer readable media comprising program instructions executable by the one or more processors such that the first playback device is configured to:   following the first playback device joining a playback group comprising the first playback device and a second playback device, play audio content at a first volume level; and   when the first playback device leaves the playback group comprising the first playback device and the second playback device, adjust a playback volume level of the first playback device to a second volume level, wherein the first volume level is different than the second volume level.   
     
     
         2 . The first playback device of  claim 1 , wherein the program instructions executable by the one or more processors such that the first playback device is configured to, following the first playback device joining the playback group comprising the first playback device and the second playback device, play the audio content at the first volume level comprise program instructions executable by the one or more processors such that the first playback device is configured to, following the first playback device joining the playback group comprising the first playback device and the second playback device, play the audio content at the first volume level in synchrony with the second playback device. 
     
     
         3 . The first playback device of  claim 2 , wherein the program instructions executable by the one or more processors such that the first playback device is configured to following the first playback device joining the playback group comprising the first playback device and the second playback device, play the audio content at the first volume level in synchrony with the second playback device comprise program instructions executable by the one or more processors such that the first playback device is configured to following the first playback device joining the playback group comprising the first playback device and the second playback device, play the audio content at the first volume level while the second playback device plays identical audio content. 
     
     
         4 . The first playback device of  claim 2 , wherein the program instructions executable by the one or more processors such that the first playback device is configured to, following the first playback device joining the playback group comprising the first playback device and the second playback device, play the audio content at the first volume level in synchrony with the second playback device comprise program instructions executable by the one or more processors such that the first playback device is configured to, following the first playback device joining the playback group comprising the first playback device and the second playback device, play a first channel of the audio content while the second playback device plays a second channel of the audio content. 
     
     
         5 . The first playback device of  claim 1 , wherein the second volume level is identical to a previous volume level used by the first playback device prior to the first playback device joining the playback group comprising the first playback device and the second playback device. 
     
     
         6 . The first playback device of  claim 1 , wherein the program instructions comprise program instructions executable by the one or more processors such that the first playback device is configured to:
 while the first playback device is in the playback group comprising the first playback device and the second playback device, adjust the first volume level based on one or more commands to adjust a group volume of the playback group, wherein a change to the group volume affects the volume level of each playback device in the playback group.   
     
     
         7 . The first playback device of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more commands to adjust the group volume of the playback group comprise one or more voice commands to adjust the group volume of the playback group. 
     
     
         8 . The first playback device of  claim 1 , wherein the program instructions comprise program instructions executable by the one or more processors such that the first playback device is configured to:
 while the first playback device is in the playback group comprising the first playback device and the second playback device, adjust the first volume level based on one or more commands to adjust the first volume level of the first playback device.   
     
     
         9 . The first playback device of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more commands to adjust the first volume level of the first playback device comprise one or more voice commands to adjust the first volume level of the first playback device. 
     
     
         10 . Tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media storing instructions executable by one or more processors to cause a first playback device to perform functions comprising:
 following the first playback device joining a playback group comprising the first playback device and a second playback device, playing audio content at a first volume level; and   when the first playback device leaves the playback group comprising the first playback device and the second playback device, adjusting a playback volume level of the first playback device to a second volume level, wherein the first volume level is different than the second volume level.   
     
     
         11 . The tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media of  claim 10 , wherein playing the audio content at the first volume level comprises playing the audio content at the first volume level in synchrony with the second playback device. 
     
     
         12 . The tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media of  claim 11 , wherein playing the audio content at the first volume level in synchrony with the second playback device comprises playing the audio content at the first volume level while the second playback device plays identical audio content. 
     
     
         13 . The tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media of  claim 11 , wherein playing the audio content at the first volume level in synchrony with the second playback device comprises playing a first channel of the audio content while the second playback device plays a second channel of the audio content. 
     
     
         14 . The tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media of  claim 10 , wherein the second volume level is identical to a previous volume level used by the first playback device prior to the first playback device joining the playback group comprising the first playback device and the second playback device. 
     
     
         15 . The tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media of  claim 10 , wherein the functions further comprise:
 while the first playback device is in the playback group comprising the first playback device and the second playback device, adjusting the first volume level based on one or more commands to adjust a group volume of the playback group, wherein a change to the group volume affects the volume level of each playback device in the playback group.   
     
     
         16 . The tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more commands to adjust the group volume of the playback group comprise one or more voice commands to adjust the group volume of the playback group. 
     
     
         17 . The tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media of  claim 10 , wherein the functions further comprise:
 while the first playback device is in the playback group comprising the first playback device and the second playback device, adjusting the first volume level based on one or more commands to adjust the first volume level of the first playback device.   
     
     
         18 . The tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more commands to adjust the first volume level of the first playback device comprise one or more voice commands to adjust the first volume level of the first playback device. 
     
     
         19 . A method performed by a first playback device, comprising:
 following the first playback device joining a playback group comprising the first playback device and a second playback device, playing audio content at a first volume level; and   when the first playback device leaves the playback group comprising the first playback device and the second playback device, adjusting a playback volume level of the first playback device to a second volume level, wherein the first volume level is different than the second volume level.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the second volume level is identical to a previous volume level used by the first playback device prior to the first playback device joining the playback group comprising the first playback device and the second playback device.